Food for Dudes: Recipes Every Guy Should Know

Hey, dude. Yeah, you. Is your oven storing old CDs? Does your microwave get more of a workout than you do? Then it's time you started to cook...for real. We've rounded up easy recipes from the country's leading chefs for the nine things you should know how to cook, from a killer grilled burger to an impressive date-night dish.

Grilled Steak

Chef Tip: "I think that many cooks are afraid of undercooked meats, and it can sometimes be tough to control the temperature  depending on if you're using a stovetop grill pan, oven, or cooking outdoors on a charcoal or gas grill. So I think that a good thermometer is a cook's best friend. Once you know proper range of temperatures for beef, preparing a steak can be almost foolproof."

Killer Burger

Chef Tip: "Season the burger well with salt and pepper and cook it over high heat. A cast-iron pan is the way to go. Try not to flip your burger more than once and don't press it with a spatula: You want the juices to stay inside the burger."

Breakfast in Bed

Chef Tip: "I am especially fond of blueberries in pancakes because as they warm with the heat of cooking, they burst, making the pancakes juicy and light. The fresh flavor of mint keeps the compote from being too sweet."

Game-Day Eats

Chef Tip: Once the food is set, focus on the beverages. "You don't want people going in and out of the kitchen, constantly reaching into the refrigerator and warming up the interior. Fill ice chests with sodas, water, and beer, if you choose, and keep the coolers in the garage or, depending on the weather, outside."

Chef Tip: "As much fun as it is to create a column of flames as you add flammable material to an incredibly hot pan, it's not really desirable or necessary — especially in a home kitchen. Unless you're a pyromaniac, I recommend carefully adding the Cognac to the still-hot pan off the flame."